Characters
Who is the minister of Salem and worried about his reputation?
Reverend Parris
What does Abigail Williams confess to Reverend Parris in Act 1?
She says the girls were only dancing in the forest.
Who says, “I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.” (Act 1)
John Proctor (to Abigail Williams)
Which theme is developed through the characters when they are being accused of witchcraft?
The fear of being accused of witchcraft spreads rapidly throughout the town, creating an environment of panic and irrational behavior. Characters act out of fear for their safety and reputation, leading to false accusations and the breakdown of trust in the community. This hysteria escalates as individuals accuse one another in a desperate attempt to avoid punishment, showing how fear can cause people to act in self-preserving but harmful ways.
What does the poppet symbolize in Act 2?
*HINT: The answer is not a voodoo doll it's just what the characters think it is
The poppet symbolizes the false evidence used to frame innocent people of witchcraft.
Who had an affair with Abigail Williams?
John Proctor
What object is used as "evidence" to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft in Act 2?
A poppet (doll) with a needle in it.
Who says, "I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you." (Act 2)
Elizabeth Proctor talking to John Proctor
What theme is revealed through John Proctor’s struggle to confess his affair with Abigail?
John Proctor’s internal struggle with his affair with Abigail Williams. Proctor is deeply burdened by his guilt, feeling that his moral failure has tarnished his character and damaged his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth. Throughout the play, he wrestles with whether to confess the affair publicly, knowing it would expose Abigail’s motives for accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft and also ruin his reputation in the community.
In Act 1, the forest represents what to the Christian Puritan characters?
The forest symbolizes danger, the unknown, and the Devil’s influence.
Which character is John Proctor’s wife and is accused of witchcraft in Act 2?
Elizabeth Proctor
Why does John Proctor dislike Reverend Parris?
He believes Parris is more concerned with wealth and his reputation than religion. OR He dislikes his preaching he talks too much about hell causing people to have more fear
Who says, “We must all love each other now, Goody Proctor”? (Act 2)
Mary Warren (to Elizabeth Proctor, after taking part in the court proceedings)
How does the theme of power play out in Act 2 with Mary Warren?
Power is shown through Mary’s newfound authority in the court, which gives her control over the Proctors.
What does John Proctor’s hesitation to expose Abigail’s lies symbolize about his character?
It symbolizes his internal struggle with guilt and his concern over his reputation.
Who is the slave from Barbados that is first accused of witchcraft?
Tituba
Why does Elizabeth Proctor want John to go to court in Act 2?
To reveal that Abigail has been spreading lies about those who are involved in witchcraft.
Who says, "Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you" (Act 1)
Abigail threatening the girls involved in the forest
What theme does the tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor demonstrate in Act 2?
The tension in their relationship ultimately underscores how trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild, and how forgiveness is a process that requires time, honesty, and vulnerability from both sides. The theme reflects the broader moral struggles in The Crucible, as characters wrestle with their sins and the consequences of their actions, seeking forgiveness not only from others but also from themselves.
What does the act of confessing symbolize in the context of the witch trials?
Confessing symbolizes both a loss of personal integrity and a way to avoid punishment.
Who is the character who is brought in to examine the presence of witchcraft in Salem?
Reverend Hale
Why does Mary Warren claim she is unable to confess to the court about Abigail’s lies in Act 2?
She fears Abigail will accuse her and charge Proctor with lechery.
Who says, "The analogy, however, seems to falter when one considers that, while there were no witches then, there are Communists and capitalists now, and in each camp there is certain proof that spies of each side are at work undermining the other" (Act 1)
The narrator OR author
How does the theme of truth versus lies shape the conflict in Salem?
The characters’ lies about witchcraft fuel fear and hysteria, while those who tell the truth are not believed, leading to chaos.
In Act 1, what does Reverend Hale’s heavy books symbolize?
The books symbolize knowledge, authority, and the reliance on rigid structures to find truth.